COVID Vaccine: Almost Two-Third Of Odisha Lags Behind In 2nd Dose Coverage

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has scored an impressive record (over 50%) of administering the first dose of COVID vaccine to eligible beneficiaries. But the second dose coverage in the state presents a completely different picture.

Almost two-third of Odisha (18 out of 30 districts) has seen abysmally low numbers of second dose vaccination.

State’s Scenario

According to data available on CoWIN portal, only 15% of beneficiaries have received the second dose in Nuapada district. This is followed by Balangir (16%), Deogarh (17%), Nabarangpur (18%), Boudh (18.8%), Malkangiri (19%), Sonepur (20%), Gajapati (21.7%) and Kandhamal (24%).

The second dose coverage is also below 27% in the districts of Bhadrak, Kalahandi, Jharsuguda, Rayagada, Koraput, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, and Mayurbhanj.

Bucking The Trend

On the other hand, Khurda district has bucked the trend by registering the highest (69%) second dose coverage in the state. It is followed by Ganjam (48%), Jagatsinghpur (40.8%), Balasore (39%), Cuttack (37%), Sundargarh (29.3%), Puri (29%), Sambalpur and Jajpur (28% each).

Why The Lag?

Director of Family Welfare and Nodal Officer of COVID-19 vaccination Dr Bijay Panigrahi said the gap between two doses of Covishield was increased to 112 days and this is why the districts administering this vaccine have recorded low coverage of the second dose. Besides, the supply of vaccines to the state has been short, he added.

People’s Complaint

Beneficiaries have alleged that shortage of syringes has also affected vaccination in some districts and the local administration often failed to plan sessions on priority basis.